Chapter 3
Christine's POV
I awoke early Friday morning, happiness coursing through my body. Today was the day. After a week and a half of lessons my angel was finally going to let me sing a duet with him! I had been asking every lesson since our third lesson, and he had finally consented.
I practically bounced into the kitchen, only to find Meg already sitting there waiting for me.
"Something certainly has you excited," She smiled, and I grinned broadly at her.
"I can just tell today is going to be a great day." I said enthusiastically, pulling her to her feet. "Go get ready… We can go to the café this morning for breakfast, my treat."
"Well as long as you're paying…" She laughed, both of us crowding into the small bathroom to get ready for the day.
Only twenty minutes later (A new record for Meg) we were ready to go, walking quickly through the cold November air to our favourite café near the theatre.
The café was small and locally owned, not part of a big chain like many coffee shops were. The owners had moved here from Paris and had modeled the café after a typical street café that lined the streets of Paris. Unlike most places in New York, all the food was homemade and fresh, and the coffee was simply astounding.
"So tell me," Meg said, sitting down as a waitress brought them a couple croissants and two café crèmes.
"Thanks Sophie," I smiled at the waitress.
"Any time Christine," she smiled, "You haven't been here in nearly a week and a half! I almost thought you had found another coffee shop to frequent."
"Never!" Meg said in mock horror. "This girl over here has just been too busy for us lately!" She said it sarcastically, but Christine heard undertones of genuine hurt in her voice.
"Well don't be a stranger!" Sophie smiled, walking over to greet another customer.
"Meg," Christine said softly, turning to her friend. "I'm sorry."
"No need to apologise," Meg said bravely, "I mean if you've found some boy to replace me, that's your business…"
"Meg!" I cried, "Is that honestly what you think?"
"What do you expect me to think Christine?" She said bitterly, twirling a plastic stir stick in her coffee. "A week and a half ago I accuse you of sneaking out with a boy, which you deny. Then for nearly two weeks you are out every night and completely ignore me except for at rehearsals!"
"Oh Meg," I sighed. "I promise it's nothing like that!"
"Then what is it Christine?!"
I stayed silent for a moment… Did I tell the truth? This was my best friend, someone I would entrust my life to…
But on the other hand, my angel had made it very clear to not tell anyone about him.
So I settled on a half-truth.
"Okay," I conceded, "I'll tell you… I've been getting voice lessons. I'm not satisfied being just a chorus girl anymore Meg… I really want to be Prima Donna one day! That's why I haven't been around."
She sat there silent for a moment, then burst out into sudden laughter. A look of surprise showed clearly on my face.
"Seriously?" She laughed. "THAT'S where you've been going? Chris! Why didn't you just tell me?!"
I blushed, "I guess I was worried you would think it was stupid… I mean, a simple chorus and ballet girl aspiring to become the Prima Donna in an opera."
"Christine," Meg started, "Dreaming of being the Prima Donna is hardly stupid… I've heard you sing, and you can honestly already sing better than that bitch Carlotta; I can't even imagine what you sound like after taking actual voice lessons!"
I blushed again. "Thanks Meg."
"But seriously Chris, next time just tell me." She said then smiled at me. "Now you hurry up and pay so we can go."
I started giggling, calling Sophie over to our table and fishing out my wallet.
"See you soon!" She called as we left towards the theater, fresh snow starting to fall from the sky.
We were amongst the last dancers to arrive at the theatre, meaning we had to get ready in a rather big hurry so we could warm-up. After quickly changing into our dance shoes and costumes we joined everyone in the theatre and began doing scales.
I sang quietly, careful to blend my voice with everyone else's. For a reason unknown to me, my angel had made it clear that I couldn't showcase my voice yet, and I didn't want to displease him today if he somehow saw me.
Carlotta prance onto the stage, her stupid on-again-off-again boyfriend Piangi scurrying after her.
"I'm here!" She proclaimed, cutting off our scales. "Let's begin!"
"But Ms. Carlotta…" The conductor started.
"I said, let's begin…" she spat, and the conductor reluctantly started the first song.
Carlotta pranced about the stage as Meg and I danced in the background, singing when it was our turn. It was a true testament to the crew's acting skills to act as though we honestly wanted Carlotta's character to be successful; in actuality, we all wanted her to be hit by a large bus.
We were part way through the second act when all of a sudden Carlotta burst out.
"No, no, NO!" She screeched, bringing everyone to an abrupt halt.
"What is it Ms. Carlotta?" The conductor asked with exasperation.
"The dancers missed their stage cue AGAIN! I can't possibly act properly with silly dancing girls constantly getting in my way!" She yelled; Piangi tried to console her but she promptly brushed him off.
"Ms. Carlotta, the dancers are all in their proper places…" Began the choreographer, but Carlotta wouldn't be corrected.
"Well then their 'proper' places need to be changed!" She mocked and started storming off the stage.
"I'm finished rehearsing for today!" She yelled as she stormed out the door, Piangi running after her.
"Alright!" The conductor called to everyone once she was gone, "I need to speak to the managers about Carlotta, so you people may go home early today."
Everyone cheered and the conductor chuckled, leaving everyone to their own business.
All the dancing girls immediately ran to our dressing room, chatting furiously the whole way there.
"Did you hear?" Sara whispered to a group of girls crowded around one of the mirrors. "Buquet told Sabra, who told Jillian, who told Aislinn who told me that a phantom haunts this opera house! Buquet saw him!"
A chorus of gasps followed this statement, whereas Meg and I just rolled our eyes. Honestly, the ballet girls in this theatre were so gullible it was ridiculous.
"Honestly you guys," Meg sighed, "Do you seriously believe something Buquet told you? The man's a pig and probably just wanted to scare you guys into his bed."
Sara blushed furiously, but Cho spoke up first. "Yeah right Meg… You're always so cynical! So what if Buquet likes to sleep around… Like you haven't done the same thing!"
Meg jumped up to speak, but for perhaps the first time in my life I beat her to it.
"How dare you?!" I screamed at Cho, walking towards her so I was right in her face. "Buquet is a slimy, sleazy man… How dare you compare Meg to him?! She is ten times the person you are, and she can actually dance! The lot of you are all a bunch of ditzy gossips who wouldn't know the truth if it hit you in the face! So why don't you run along before the phantom gets you?"
The girls all looked at me in surprise, but a few of them showed genuine fear, including Cho.
"L-let's go girls," Sara stuttered, and they all grabbed their bags and ran out of the theater.
"Bravo Christine!" Meg squealed, clapping excitedly. "Way to scare the living daylights out of them!"
"I don't know what came over me," I laughed in surprise. "I just couldn't let them compare you to Buquet… I've hated that man ever since he tried to hit on you after the opening of the last show."
"Yeah," Meg sighed, "Thank goodness you were there to bail me out!"
"Meg!" I mimicked what I had yelled that night. "We need to go home and walk the dog!"
We both began to laugh. "It wasn't the most original excuse…" I giggled as we walked out the theatre doors.
"Singing lessons?" Meg questioned as she turned away from me.
"Yes," I smiled.
"Have a good time!" she called and began walking back toward the house.
I killed an hour at the café, and then headed back to the theatre early. If my angel wasn't ready for lessons yet, I would just practice on my own.
However, he spoke as soon as I entered the stage.
"Welcome Christine," He said, a smile clear in his voice even though I couldn't see him.
"What's so funny?" I teased, and he began to laugh a deep, throaty laugh. It was the first time I had heard him laugh and it was honestly a beautiful sound.
"I heard your outburst on those silly dancers earlier… It was quite marvelous." He chuckled, and I began laughing with him, surprisingly not that bothered by the fact that he had heard.
"Well thank you," I giggled.
"It wasn't right of them to compare Joseph Buquet to your friend… That man is the scum of the Earth, I would advise you to stay away from him."
"Don't worry, I already do…" I trailed off… seeing some sheet music on the usual stand.
"Yay!" I squealed, excitedly picking up the music.
The title was written in beautiful cursive at the top of the page:
One Hand, One Heart
"I know it's short," He started, "But the harmonizing is good for you to practice…"
"How did you know?" I gasped, clutching the music to my chest, a tear sliding down my cheek.
"Know what my dear?" He asked, confusion clear in his voice.
"That this is my favourite duet of all time." I whispered. "It was my parent's wedding song… Every year on their anniversary my father and mother would sing it, and on their last anniversary I played it on my dad's violin with them... I spent months learning it perfectly so I could play it with them, even though I was only six years old."
"I didn't know you learned the violin," My angel answered quietly.
"Yeah I did," I nodded, holding back tears, "Dad started teaching me when I was three, so I'm actually pretty good at it… Not as good as my dad was, but not awful."
"I would like to hear you play it sometime…" My angel started, but I was already shaking my head.
"I can't," I cried, tears pouring down my face, "I've tried to play, I honestly have, but I just can't do it… The violin is his. It literally sits in my bedroom in the corner, and every day I tell myself I'm going to play it, but my soul just won't let me."
"Singing is different," I continue, pouring out my heart now. "Singing is something that I've always been more passionate about, and for some reason it only took me a couple of weeks after my dad died to start singing again, but I just can't make myself play the violin… The music just doesn't want to be played."
"I understand Christine," He said immediately, "I've had the same thing happen to me with the death of a loved one."
He didn't elaborate, and I didn't feel up to pressing him for details.
"You will be able to play again someday my dear… Just listen to your heart and you'll know when the time has come."
I nodded, using the edge of my sweater to wipe my tears off my face.
"We can sing a different duet," He offered when I didn't say anything. "I had no idea what this song meant to you…"
"No," I cut him off, sounding strangely sure of myself. "I want to sing it with you… I want to sing a duet that holds deep meaning for me, it'll make the music more powerful."
"Okay," He whispered, and the piano started.
"Make of our hands, one hand,
Make of our hearts, one heart.
Make of our vows, one last vow
Only death will part us now. " He began to sing, and I felt the power of his voice. I pictured my father, singing to my mother… I pictured a pure, undying love. His voice held every emotion of the song, and I jumped in as soon as it was my turn, letting the passion pour out of me.
"Make of our lives, one life.
Day after day, one life." I sang out, picturing my mom singing to my dad. The music came from my very soul… and I felt like the song; felt the love, the commitment, the adoration…
And then our voices came together in a harmony more beautiful than any I had experienced.
"Now it begins, now we start
One Hand, One Heart.
Even death won't part us now," We sang together, pure and unbridled. Singing with my angel was truly the most beautiful thing I had ever experienced. Even though there were only a few lines, the emotion overwhelmed me and I fell to my knees on the stage, my legs giving out.
I didn't think it was possible for so many emotions to course through one body… The hurt over losing my mother and father, the love I felt through the song, the wonder at my angel's voice, the curiosity about my angel, the power of singing from my very soul… The beauty of blending my voice with my angel's…
"Christine!" He called out in alarm, "Are you alright?!"
"Yes," I whispered, looking up into the roof. "Just so many feelings… My legs gave out."
"And that, my dear, is what makes you such a spectacular singer… Soon you will learn to channel every bit of those emotions through your music, and then no one in the world will be able to hear you without feeling those emotions with you." He said deeply, but he sounded like he was smiling again.
"Angel?" I said after a few moments.
"Yes my dear?"
"What is your name?" I questioned, "Surely even an angel gets a name."
He was silent for a moment, and I was worried I had made him mad. I was just about to apologise when he spoke.
"Erik," He said softly.
"Erik," I smiled, "That's a perfect name for an angel."
"Thank you," He said, "Now go… That was all I had planned for us tonight, so you are free to leave."
"Goodnight Erik!" I called as I exited the theater.
The night was cold that night, and I wrapped my coat tightly around me as I began walking back toward my apartment.
I had only taken ten steps when I heard a frail scream from behind me. At first I was scared for my own safety (It was New York at night after all), and I whirled around, fear clenched in my stomach.
However, the scream wasn't coming from anything threatening me, it came from a frail, old woman lying on the sidewalk. A large man in a black ski mask was savagely kicking her as she tried helplessly to protect herself.
"Hey!" I yelled without thinking, but the man didn't even turn around.
My mind kicked into overdrive and before I knew what I was doing, I was sprinting toward the masked man. I didn't know what I was going to do, being as small as I was, but I just couldn't leave the woman there to die.
As I approached him, pure adrenaline set in and I launched myself onto his unsuspecting back, desperately hoping he wasn't armed.
I began beating at his face as he tried to swat me off him, temporarily distracted from the old woman. Out of the corner of my eye I saw her pull an old, outdated cell phone out of her pocket and begin to dial the police.
Unfortunately, my moment of distraction allowed the man's large hand to connect with my face.
The shock of the hit caused me to tumble off his back onto the sidewalk, my wrist hitting the pavement awkwardly. I let out a cry of pain.
He glared at me murderously, but was quickly distracted by the sounds of approaching sirens. Without another look at me he turned and began to run.
My mind was already made up before I even realized it. Despite the growing pain in my wrist (The adrenaline was beginning to wear off), I jumped up and chased him. After all that I just did I wasn't going to let him get away to hurt anyone else.
Just as the police car and ambulance stopped at the curb, I dived at the man, managing to hit the back of his knees with my shoulder. He came crashing down half on top of me, causing my already bruised face and broken wrist to hit the pavement hard, as well as my side. Within moments the cops had him off me and handcuffed, and a young, attractive EMT kneeled over me.
"Is… the… lady… alright?" I panted as he began to check my injuries.
"Bruised ribs and some severe bruising, but nothing that won't heal." He said kindly, then turned to his partners. "I need a wrist splint and some bandages… I have a sprained wrist and some road-rash and bruising on her face, as well as bruised ribs."
"I jumped on his back and he punched me…" I began, but cried out in pain as he wrapped my wrist.
"Sorry," He murmured, then locked the splint into place. Surprisingly the pain eased off a little.
"Can you walk miss…?" He trailed off, realizing he didn't know my name.
"Daae… Christine Daae." I answered. "Oh God, my side... I don't think I can."
He brought a stretcher and loaded me into the ambulance.
"Here," He passed me some pain medication, which I gladly took. Then I looked at the woman whom I had risked my life to help.
"What's your name?" I asked softly, trying to smile until I realised how much that hurt my face.
"You can call me Mama Valerius," she smiled softly, "Thank you, you're an angel."
"Happy to help," I said without smiling, "My name's Christine."
"You're a lovely girl Christine." Mama Valerius smiled and placed her hand comfortingly on mine; it was the closest gesture to a parent's touch that I'd had since my father died. We rode in comfortable silence all the way to the hospital.
AN: Hey everyone! Sorry this is so late, but it was the opening night of our school's production of The Sound of Music tonight! I just love music! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter Please review!